Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and announced that the team will not extend the contract for general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday.
David Adelman will adopt Nugget’s main coaching role for the rest of the season.
The winning head coach in franchise history led Malone Nuggets to his lone NBA title 2023 when the team defeated Miami Heat in five matches.
Malone, 53, published a 471-327 record during his ten seasons with Denver, including 47-32 this season.
“This decision was not made easily and evaluated very carefully, and we only do so with the intention to give our group the best chance to compete for the 2025 NBA championship and deliver another title to Denver and our fans everywhere,” said Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, in a statement.
Nuggets have dropped four in a row and seven of the last ten games to fall to fourth place on the Western Conference. They sit on a half -game on four other teams with three games left on their schedule.
“Although the timing of this decision is unfortunate, because Coach Malone helped to build the foundation for our now championship program, it is a necessary step to let us compete at the highest level right now,” Kroenke said. “Standards and expectations at the championship level remain during the current season, and when we look after the future, we look forward to building on the foundation of coach Malone during his record-breaking 10-year career in Denver.”
Before joining Denver, Malone published a record of 39-67 during parts of two seasons with Sacramento Kings 2013-14.
Booth, 48, was raised to the team’s manager 2020 and is out of his job immediately.
“I want to thank Calvin Booth for led our Front Office over the past three years and most importantly to help put the last pieces in place for the guard list that delivered Denver and our fans their first NBA championship,” Kroenke said. “Calvin’s knowledge of the game, his passion for scouting and his long history as a player and CEO of the NBA helped to lift our organization to new heights, which we will continue to move on. We are grateful for Calvin during his eight years with Nuggets and know his place in Nugget’s history as our first championship -won GM will be honored for several years.
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